Thursday, December 31, 2015

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.” Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health.This includesfat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of coconut oil that have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated (1).
However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth (2).
Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.
No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.
Most of the fatty acids in the diet are so-called long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Bottom Line: Coconut oil contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently and can have therapeutic effects on several brain disorders.

3. Populations that eat a Lot of Coconut Are Among the Healthiest on the Planet

Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.
However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.
The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.
They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.
These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease (3).
Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans (4).

Bottom Line: Plenty of populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating massive amounts of coconut.

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world.
While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.
It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats (5, 6).
One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day (7).

Bottom Line: The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

5. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil can kill Bacteria, Virus' and Fungus Helping to Stave off Infections

Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid.
When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin.
Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi (8).
For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans (9, 10).

6. Coconut Oil can Kill your Hunger Making you eat less without even trying

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.
This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect (11).
In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.
The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average (12).
Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch (13).
These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.

Bottom Line: The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

7. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil are Turned into Ketones which can reduce seizures

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currently being studied to treat various disorders.
The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children (14).
This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.
For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.
Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet (15, 16).

Bottom Line: The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.
Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype (17, 18).
In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil (19).
There are also rat studies showing that coconut oil reduces triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL and improves blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status (20, 21).
This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.

Bottom Line: Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.

9. Coconut Oil can protect Hair against and damage and moisturize skin and work as a sunscreen

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.
Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin (22).
Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays (23, 24)
Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath (25, 26, 27).

Bottom Line: Coconut oil can
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.

In Alzheimer’spatients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.
Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s (28).
In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides lead to an immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s (29).
Other studies support these findings and medium chain triglycerides are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease (30, 31).

Bottom Line: Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of ALZHEIMER’S patients and relieving symptoms. be applied topically as well, studies showing it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen and as mouthwash.

It's becoming relatively common knowledge that your health is not just about your body, but rather is the result of its symbiotic relationship with 100 trillion bacteria and other microorganisms.
Your microbiome is unique to you, like a fingerprint, and represents a combination of lifestyle factors, genetics, environment, and more.
Your gut microbiome influences your immune responses and nervous system functioning, and plays a role in the development of a number of diseases, including obesity, cancer and heart disease.
In the latter case, research has emerged that bacteria in your gut may play an integral role in the formation of fatty deposits on your arteries, leading to atherosclerosis (hardening of your arteries).
Perhaps even more remarkable, now researchers have also figured out a way to stop the process.

Targeting Gut Microbes to Prevent Heart Disease

Research by physician Stanley Hazen of the Cleveland Clinic and colleagues has shown that certain bacteria in your gut can transform choline (found in meat and eggs) and other dietary nutrients into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which slows the breakdown of cholesterol.
The higher your TMAO levels become, the more fatty plaques may collect in your arteries, which may promote atherosclerosis and other heart problems.
As The Atlantic recently reported, Dr. Hazen's colleague Zeneng Wang discovered that the chemical 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB) prevents gut microbes from turning choline into trimethylamine (TMA), thereby lowering the risk of heart problems.1,2
DMB is a choline-like compound that works by “gumming up” the enzymes required by the bacteria to digest choline, which stops TMA production. According to The Atlantic:3

"It takes two to TMAO: Bacteria first transform choline into TMA, before an enzyme from the host animal changes TMA into TMAO. At first, Hazen's team tried to prevent the second part of this chain by blocking the animal enzyme. They succeeded, lowering TMAO levels in mice and making them resistant to atherosclerosis. But there was just one problem: disabling the enzyme leads to a build-up of TMA, which doesn't harm the heart but does smell of rotting fish."

By targeting gut microbes with DMB, the mice, which were bred to be vulnerable to atherosclerosis, produced less TMAO even when fed a choline-rich diet. They also had fewer signs of the condition. As written in Cell:4

"The present studies suggest that targeting gut microbial production of TMA specifically and non-lethal microbial inhibitors in general may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases."

Your gut bacteria can also metabolize L-carnitine, a substance found in red meat, eggs, and other foods, and in so doing produce TMAO.
Interestingly, people with diets high in L-carnitine, i.e. meat eaters, had a gut microbe composition that was more prone to forming TMAO, while vegetarians and vegans did not.
Even after consuming large amounts of L-carnitine in a steak or supplement, the vegetarians and vegans in the study did not produce significant amounts of TMAO.

Does this mean that you should avoid meat and L-carnitine?

I believe the answer is a resounding no. The science is very clear that L-carnitine is required to shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria to burn them as fuel. It is an important mitochondrial nutrient and I personally take a supplement because I don't eat much red meat.

However I believe healthy non-CAFO red meat can be an important part of a healthy diet. One just does not want to consume it in excess that almost everyone does. Anything over 3-4 ounces. and 2 ounces for people under140 pounds, is far too much protein and will raise mTOR levels.

If you are a vegetarian, or someone that has a mitochondrial dysfunction disease then I strongly believe that you should be on a supplement of L-carnitine, not acetylcarnitine, simple plain L-carnitine.
However, Dr. Hazen and colleagues believe that eating red meat alters your gut flora in a way that predisposes your body toward TMAO production, and subsequently, heart disease.5
I suspect this research is flawed as they never really carefully examined the quantity or quality of meat being consumed. CAFO meat should be avoided for reasons previously discussed and excessive meat consumption,

in my view, excessive meat, especially CAFO meat, will not only contribute to heart disease, but cancer, obesity, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

U.S Military Using Gut Microbes to Stave Off Disease and More

Rice University synthetic biologist Jeff Tabor received a three-year grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) to research how gut microbes may be used to support health on the battlefront.
Synthetic biology involves genetically engineering microorganisms, making it highly controversial. Tabor's work involves a genetically engineered E. coli cell that is capable of sensing certain chemical disturbances.
The ultimate goal is that the cells would then "fire off a battery of molecules to neutralize [the disturbances]."9 The cells would be designed to only survive a matter of hours in your gut, carrying out their intended purpose and then dying off naturally.
To date, his research in mice has been related to obesity and other metabolic issues. When mice were fed the modified E. coli cells, the "sensors" were activated, which means the targeted chemicals were successfully located.
The research is only in the beginning stages, but plans are underway to produce GE cells that would carry up to a dozen sensors and be capable of producing targeted drugs on the spot, including highly-targeted antibiotics that target bacterial chemicals linked to obesity, inflammation, and more.10
Manipulating gut bacteria with "synthetic probiotics" might one day be used to treat diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer, neurological disorders, obesity, and more.
The U.S. military is hoping that tweaking the microbiome might also help the armed forces stay healthy in the face of extreme conditions, stress, disruptions to circadian rhythm (like living on a submarine), and sleep loss. Scientific American reported:11

" … [T]he Navy may find creative ways to deploy these synthetic probiotics not just to avoid obesity and its attendant problems but to quickly shift body weight and metabolism as necessary, Tabor suggests. 'Imagine you have a team of marines going from a temperate environment, say, at sea level, to a really cold environment, like up on top of a mountain, in a short period of time. You want them to be able to put on some fat quickly to be more robust in the cold environment.'The solution? A dose of yogurt laced with synthetic probiotics that change warfighters' metabolism to increase fat for a couple of weeks — and after that another dose to take it off when they return to sea level."

The Microbiome Is a 'Key Regulator' of Your Brain and Behavior

Your microbiome affects your heart, your weight, and, yes, also your brain and behavior. So-called germ-free mice, which have no microbiome to speak of, have altered behavior and brain function.
In a study by Dr. John Cryan, a neuropharmacologist from the University College Cork in Ireland, mice without microbes in their intestines are unable to recognize other mice around them. Dr. Cryan believes microbes may communicate with the brain and help us be social, which in turn allows the microbes to spread to others.12
In addition, mice lacking gut bacteria have been found to engage in "high-risk behavior," and this altered behavior was accompanied by neurochemical changes in the mouse brain.13 Dr. Cryan believes beneficial microbes could one day be used to treat mental health problems in humans.
He dubbed the compounds "psychobiotics." He told Scientific American, "That dietary treatments could be used as either adjunct or sole therapy for mood disorders is not beyond the realm of possibility."14
In one notable study by Dr. Cryan and colleagues, the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus had a marked effect on GABA levels — an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is significantly involved in regulating many physiological and psychological processes — in certain brain regions and lowered the stress-induced hormone corticosterone, resulting in reduced anxiety- and depression-related behavior.15
Further, researchers have discovered that the absence or presence of gut microorganisms during infancy permanently alters gene expression. Through gene profiling, they were able to discern that absence of gut bacteria altered genes and signaling pathways involved in learning, memory, and motor control.
This suggests that gut bacteria are closely tied to early brain development and subsequent behavior. These behavioral changes could be reversed as long as the mice were exposed to normal microorganisms early in life. But, once the germ-free mice had reached adulthood, colonizing them with bacteria did not influence their behavior.16 As reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Record:17

"Cryan has identified several 'critical windows' for gut microbiota development and in which it might be most possible to transform them: early life, adolescence and old age. But, 'on the whole, it's the early-life period that's instrumental for informing the microbiome composition, which informs our immune system and may shape aspects of brain development as well,' he said."

This is one strong argument for having a vaginal birth as opposed to a C-section (if you have the option), as your baby is "seeded" with microbes as it goes through the birth canal. Breastfeeding further encourages a healthy microbiome in early life, and once your baby is ready for soft foods, you can easily provide abundant probiotics in the form of fermented foods.
However, even though early life is a crucial time for developing a healthy microbiome, you can make favorable changes all throughout your life.

How to Nourish Your Microbiome

Your microbiome is vulnerable to your diet and lifestyle and can be harmed by:

Antibiotics, unless absolutely necessary (and when you do take them, make sure to reseed your gut with fermented foods and/or a probiotic supplement)

Conventionally raised meats and other animal products, as CAFO animals are routinely fed low-dose antibiotics, plus genetically engineered grains, which have also been implicated in the destruction of gut flora

In addition to avoiding the harmful aspects above, reseeding your gut with beneficial bacteria is essential for maintaining proper balance and achieving optimal physical and mental health. In light of this, here are my recommendations for optimizing your gut bacteria.

Fermented foods are the best route to optimal gut health, as long as you eat the traditionally made, unpasteurized versions.

Healthy choices include lassi (an Indian yoghurt drink, traditionally enjoyed before dinner), fermented grass-fed organic milk such as kefir, various pickled fermentations of cabbage, turnips, eggplant, cucumbers, onions, squash, and carrots, and natto (fermented soy). Fermented vegetables, in particular, are an excellent way to supply beneficial bacteria back into your gut. As an added bonus, they can also a great source of vitamin K2if you ferment your own using the proper starter culture.
We had samples of high-quality, fermented organic vegetables made with our specific starter culture tested, and a typical serving (about two to three ounces) contained not only 10 trillion beneficial bacteria, but it also had 500 mcg of vitamin K2, which we now know is a vital co-nutrient to both vitamin D and calcium.
Most high-quality probiotics supplements will only supply you with a fraction of the beneficial bacteria found in such homemade fermented veggies, so it's your most economical route to optimal gut health as well.

Probiotic supplement. Although I'm not a major proponent of taking many supplements (as I believe the majority of your nutrients need to come from food), probiotics is an exception if you don't eat fermented foods on a regular basis.

The largest of your internal organs is no other than the filter of your body – the liver. The liver processes fat and metabolizes the sugar reserves of the body to create digestible sugar for regulation of glucose. Since the function of the liver is crucial to one’s health, it is also crucial to take care of it and ensure its proper function. One of the diseases that you may endanger your liver is hepatic steatosis or fatty liver.

Description

The term “fatty liver” does not denote the mere presence of fat in the liver – which is normal. What may cause you trouble is the amount of fat. As long as it remains under 5-10%, your liver is fine. In case this percentage increases, you might be facing this illness. Moreover, statistically, one in ten people in the USA have this problem, most of which are in their fifties and sixties.
However, the nature of fatty liver disease may vary depending of the factor of alcohol consumption. The type which does not involve alcohol abuse is non-alcoholic and its occurrence is not proven to be hereditary and connected to any particular causes, except for the fact that the risk of this illness is increased in middle-aged overweight people. On the other hand, as the name itself suggests, the alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is linked to excessive amounts of drinking and there is a possible connection of family history of drinking problems and the degrees of the illness.

How to recognize the signs and fight back

Fatty liver disease may cause fatigue, weakness, nausea, decrease in one’s appetite or weight, upper right abdomen pains, confusedness and lack of concentration, as well as jaundice.
All these symptoms may be reverted or ameliorated with a few simple changes of everyday habits.
First, make sure you control your calorie intake and lose the extra pounds by simultaneously increasing your level of physical activity to at least half an hour 4-5 times a week. That can be accomplished more easily with eating fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains and of course, no alcohol. Smoking and heavy use of medications are to be eliminated too. Also, keep track of your glucose levels and if present, your diabetes. All these activities will inevitably lead to lowering of the cholesterol and fat levels in your blood.

Reduce the risk at home

A few natural effective remedies for keeping your liver healthy can replace many medical treatments and drugs with the same objective. Some of them are gooseberries, as a rich source of antioxidants and milk thistle flower containing Silymarine – a flavonoid that has positive influence on the liver. Moreover, sulfur-rich vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, leeks, onions and cabbage are known for their detoxifying properties. Also, licorice root is a natural ingredient that lowers the negative transaminase enzymes AST and ALT present in the liver. Another way to help your liver is to stimulate the production of liver bile, which dissolves the fats in the liver in order to make digestion easier. Such natural stimulants are green tea, lemon juice, coffee, artichokes and dandelions.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease of the nerves in your brain and spinal column, caused by a demyelization process. In MS, your immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin, which is a protective coating around your nerve fibers.
This leads to disruptions in the messages sent around your brain and spinal cord, leading to symptoms such as trouble balancing, muscle weakness, tremors, pain, and fatigue.
Researchers have long been searching for a method to repair this damage to the myelin, and thereby slow, stop or even reverse the course of the disease.
While your body does have the ability to repair myelin naturally, this process tends to become less effective as you get older. Now, however, researchers have uncovered a natural option that might play a major role in boosting the repair of damaged myelin in people with MS: vitamin D.

Vitamin D Might Help Regenerate Damaged Myelin

The RXR gamma receptor protein is known to be involved in the repair of myelin. Researchers from the University of Cambridge revealed that the vitamin D receptor protein is also involved and pairs with RXR gamma during this process.1 According to the University of Cambridge:2

"By adding vitamin D to brain stem cells where the proteins were present, they found the production rate of oligodendrocytes (myelin making cells) increased by 80 percent. When they blocked the vitamin D receptor to stop it from working, the RXR gamma protein alone was unable to stimulate the production of oligodendrocytes."

The researchers noted that the study "provides significant evidence that vitamin D is also involved in the regeneration of myelin" once MS has developed, and they hope to create a myelin repair drug that works by targeting the vitamin D receptor (currently, the typical prescription for MS focuses on highly toxic medications like prednisone and interferon).3
Susan Kohlhaas, head of biomedical research at the MS Society, stated, however, that she'd like to see more studies to reveal whether taking vitamin D supplements could be an effective treatment for MS.4

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Prevalent Among People with MS

There's no need to wait for further research to optimize your vitamin D levels, especially if you have a condition like MS.
Research presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) shows that vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly prevalent both among those diagnosed with MS and patients suffering other neuromuscular conditions.5
In this case, vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D3 level of 30 ng/ml or less. Of patients diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition, 48 percent were deficient in vitamin D.
Only 14 percent were above "normal," which here constituted a vitamin D level of 40 ng/ml (to maximally benefit from vitamin D, you likely need a level of 40 to 60 ng/ml). According to one of the authors:

"While the connection between vitamin D deficiency and neurologic disease is likely complex and not yet fully understood, this study may prompt physicians to consider checking vitamin D levels in their patients with neurologic conditions and supplementing when necessary."

Sensible Sun Exposure Associated with MS Risk

About a dozen studies have noted a strong link between MS and vitamin D deficiency, including lack of sun exposure. It is through sunlight exposure that your body is able to produce vitamin D.
For example, a number of studies have confirmed that your risk of MS increases the farther away you live from the equator, suggesting lack of sun exposure amplifies your risk.6
People born in April or May, just after the darker, colder winter months, have also been found to be significantly more likely to have MS than those born during October and November (after the sunny summer months). Researchers concluded:7

"Month of birth has a significant effect on subsequent MS risk. This is likely to be due to ultraviolet light exposure and maternal vitamin D levels, as demonstrated by the relationship between risk and latitude."

Evidence presented in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology even confirmed that exposure to the sun in appropriate and measured timeframes has a number of health benefits unrelated to vitamin D production, such as protecting against and suppressing symptoms of MS.8

Vitamin D Deficiency May Be Putting Your Health at Risk

It's incredibly easy to boost your vitamin D levels, so there's no reason to put your health at risk from low status … yet researchers such as Dr. Michael Holick estimate that 50 percent of the general population is at risk of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.
If you're among them, your risk of not only multiple sclerosis, but also diabetes and other metabolic disorders may be significantly increased. In a study of more than 100 people, those with low vitamin D levels were more likely to have type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or metabolic syndrome, regardless of their weight.9Dementia is also directly linked to vitamin D. Seniors who have low vitamin D levels may double their risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.10 As noted by the authors, "This adds to the ongoing debate about the role of vitamin D in nonskeletal conditions."
Incidence of several types of cancer could also be slashed in half if more people increased their vitamin D levels.
As mentioned by Dr. Holick, one of the Nurses' Health Studies showed that nurses who had the highest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, averaging about 50 ng/ml, reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 50 percent.
Similarly, a Canadian study done by senior investigator of research Julia Knight, Ph.D., showed that women who reported having the most sun exposure as a teenager and young adult had almost a 70 percent reduced risk of developing breast cancer.
One of Dr. Holick's studies showed that healthy volunteers taking 2,000 IUs of vitamin D per day for a few months upregulated 291 different genes that control up to 80 different metabolic processes.
This included improving DNA repair to having effect on autoxidation (oxidation that occurs in the presence of oxygen and /or UV radiation, which has implications for aging and cancer, for example), boosting your immune system, and many other biological processes.

How to Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels

I believe sensible sun exposure is the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D levels. As a general rule, you'll want to expose large amounts of bare skin to the sun until it turns the lightest shade of pink, if you're light-skinned.
This typically occurs in about half the time it would normally take you to burn. So if you know you tend to get sunburned after 30 minutes, you'd want to stay in the sun for about 15 minutes. Those with darker skin may need to pay closer attention to notice when this slight reddening occurs.
It's nearly impossible to give any firm recommendations for how long you need to stay in the sun to optimize vitamin D production, as it varies greatly depending on a number of factors, such as:

Antioxidant levels and diet in general

Age

Skin color and/or current tan level

Use of sunscreen

Latitude and altitude (elevation)

Cloud cover and pollution

Ozone layer

Surface reflection

Season

Time of day

Weight

While sunlight is the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D, winter and working indoors prevent more than 90 percent of those reading this article from achieving ideal levels.
A high-quality tanning bed is your next best option, but if your circumstances don't allow you to access the sun or a high-quality tanning bed, then you really have only one option if you want to raise your vitamin D, and that is to take a vitamin D3 supplement.
As a general guideline, research by GrassrootsHealth suggests adults need about 8,000 IUs per day to achieve a serum level of 40 ng/ml.
However, to find out what dosage is best for you make sure to get tested, and take steps to optimize your levels accordingly. The vitamin D test you're looking for is called 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This is the officially recognized marker of overall D status and is most strongly associated with overall health. The other vitamin D test available, called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)D), is not very useful for determining vitamin D sufficiency.
If you do opt for a vitamin D3 supplement, you also need to boost your intake of vitamin K2 through food and/or a supplement, as well as continue to get your levels tested to be sure you're safely within the therapeutic range.

I believe optimizing your vitamin D level is of great importance if you have MS, but it's not the only factor. Dr. Terry Wahls, who reversed multiple sclerosis after seven years of deterioration simply by changing her diet, discovered that MS patients' brains tend to shrink.
This roused her curiosity and led her to research other diseases that have similar brain shrinkage, namely Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases. One common denominator is poorly functioning mitochondria. Mitochondria are like little "batteries" in your cells that manage the energy supply to the cell. Unless you consume the correct nutrients, eventual mitochondrial malfunction is the result.
She discovered three nutrients in particular that are essential for proper mitochondrial function:

Animal-based omega-3 fat

Creatine

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or better yet the reduced version known as ubiquinol

The breakfast I currently enjoy, which is based on coconut oil, is also designed to improve the health of your mitochondria. Your myelin also needs specific nutrients to function properly, such as:

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B9

Vitamin B12

Animal-based omega-3 fat

Iodine

The neurotransmitters in your brain also need specific nutrients, including sulfur and vitamin B6, for optimal functioning. Eventually, Dr. Wahls designed her own eating plan, based on the nutrients she knew she needed for optimal mitochondrial, myelin, and neurotransmitter function, because while your body can create some nutrients, others must be provided through your diet. Dr. Wahl eliminated processed foods, grains, and starches from her diet and began to eat the foods that follow.

3 cups daily (equal to one dinner plate, piled high) of green leaves, such as kale, which are high in vitamins B, A, C, K, and minerals

3 cups daily of sulfur-rich vegetables from the cabbage and onion families, mushrooms, and asparagus

3 cups daily of brightly colored vegetables, fruits, and/or berries, which are good sources of antioxidants

Dr. Wahl began to notice significant improvement in just three months, and at the nine-month mark of her new diet, she was able to go on an 18-mile bike ride. This is the power of nutrition!

More Natural Strategies for Multiple Sclerosis

MS can be a challenging disease to treat, which is why it's best to consult a natural health care provider who can help you attack it from multiple angles, including the dietary, environmental, and emotional elements. For instance, aspartame and mercury toxicity have been known to mimic diseases such as MS, so addressing this possibility, if it applies to you, should be at the top of your list — in addition to adjusting your diet, not in lieu of dietary changes.

Certain supplements may also be useful, such as low-dose Naltrexone (LDN), along with alpha-lipoic acid. Naltrexone (generic name) is a pharmacologically active opioid antagonist conventionally used to treat drug and alcohol addiction – normally at doses of 50 milligrams (mg) to 300 mg.

As such, it's been an FDA-approved drug for over two decades. However, researchers have found that at very low dosages (3 mg to 4.5 mg), Naltrexone has immune-modulating properties that may be able to successfully treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases including MS.

When you take LDN at bedtime, it blocks your opioid receptors for a few hours in the middle of the night, and is believed to up-regulate vital elements of your immune system by increasing your body's production of metenkephalin and endorphins (your natural opioids), hence improving immune function.

More often than not, some form of hidden emotional wound can also be found in patients suffering with autoimmune diseases like MS.

Strategies like meditation, prayer, and energy psychology techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) are particularly effective and need to be part of your overall treatment strategy in order to truly address the root of your illness, as well as help you cope with symptoms. Again, working with a holistic health care provider can help you to determine the best overall strategy for you.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Numerous scientific studies were focused on finding the connection between metabolism, weight loss and coconut oil. The results that come from these studies have confirmed that coconut oil contains large quantities of fatty acids, which have the ability to speed up the metabolism, provide energy to the body and support weight loss.

According to some stats, conventional pharmaceutical treatments don’t provide any effects in 8 out of 10 people who are suffering from underactive thyroid and the reason for that is the fact that hypothyroidism is a type of autoimmune disease.

Thyroid Disease Common Symptoms

1. Mental fog

ADD (attention deficit disorder), which usually involves poor memory and concentration and mental fog are usually associated with thyroid disorder. Underactive thyroid can cause memory issues while the occurrence of overactive thyroid is linked to poor concentration.

2. Continuing fatigue

Those who have good night’s sleep (between eight and ten hours) and despite that feel tired and exhausted might be suffering from underactive thyroid. Of course, there are many different disorders and diseases that can result in chronic fatigue, but in most cases this is an early sign of thyroid disease.

3. Digestive problems

Constipation is one of the most frequent symptoms of hypothyroidism. When it comes to hyperthyroidism, people usually experience diarrhea and continual bowel movements.

4. Uncontrolled weight gain

Fast and uncontrolled weight gain is definitely one of the symptoms of thyroid disease and if you notice something like this, you should visit your doctor’s office as soon as possible.

5. Rapid changes in mood

This is another frequent symptom of thyroid disorder. Hyperthyroidism leads to nervousness and anxiety. On the other hand, hypothyroidism causes rapid changes in mood, depression and short temper.

Even if your thyroid tests are fine this doesn’t mean that you should not take care of your thyroid.Thyroid imbalances and problems can usually be seen through blood tests. However, it is good to mention that some smaller thyroid problems and disorders are very difficult to be found through medical tests.

How Can Coconut Oil Help You with the Thyroid Disease?

Poor diet and unusually high blood sugar levels can certainly affect the proper functioning of the thyroid. That’s why; you should start following a healthy diet and get involved in physical activity on a regular basis. In this way, your thyroid will remain healthy too.

In the past, nutritionists have considered coconut oil to be a bad fat. But, in the last few years, several scientific studies have confirmed that coconut oil is actually rich in saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil contains lauric acid. This acid can increase the level of good cholesterol in the system and reduce the level of bad cholesterol at the same time. This is one of the reasons why this oil is used by people from South Asia since ancient times.

How To Include Coconut Oil in Your Daily Diet?

Salad dressings and stir-fries can come in the form of melted coconut oil. This type of coconut oil can be used instead of vegetable oil during baking.

When this oil is consumed on a regular basis, it can improve the work of the thyroid gland. Besides coconut oil, there are few other foods that can provide positive effects to the thyroid. Anti-inflammatory foods and foods that don’t contain gluten are some of the foods that are great for the thyroid and on top of that they can also improve the health of the heart.

Few simple tips:

Include more minerals and vitamins like B vitamins, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and iron in your diet.

I have temporal lobe epilepsy, and I had brain surgery at the University of Chicago in 2007. The surgery helped, but it never controlled seizures.

I have been on just about every seizure medications there are, including clinical trial medications. None of them have ever stopped my seizures.

I finally grew weary of taking them, so I began yoga, meditation, and dietary changes. I’ve been putting 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in smoothies every day.

I have been seizure free for 9 weeks, the longest I’ve ever gone. I haven’t even had de ja vue!!!
I am very excited!! The longest I’ve ever gone (without seizures) is 3 weeks, which was the “honeymoon effect” of the various medications.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Diabetes is a disease that affects the lives of thousands of people and even though this disease cannot be eliminated, there are certain things that each diabetics can do to handle and maintain it. It is important to understand that diabetes is not only potentially lethal, but unfortunately it can lead to many other health problems.

Once someone develops this disease, it is crucial to maintain the blood sugar levels at a normal level. This is the only way for these people to live a normal life.

In order to achieve that, they need to practice a healthy diet, take certain pharmaceutical medicines and folk medicines. All these things can soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of this vicious disease.

2-Ingredients Recipe to Get Rid of Diabetes

Those who want to try this incredible natural remedy will need to look for only two simple ingredients.

Ingredients:

Take the celery root and wash it thoroughly. After that, grate it and place it in a clean enamel pot. Make sure that the pot is in a perfect shape (no damages). Put the squeezed lemon juice from six lemons. Cover the port and put it in a different, larger pot filled with plain water. Turn the heat on and wait until the water starts boiling.

Once it starts boiling, lower the heat and just simmer on a low temperature for about two hours. Next, take the containers from fire. Wait until the mixture is cooled down, open it and place it in a glass jar. Seal the jar and store it in the fridge.

How to use this natural remedy?

Take one tablespoon of this incredible natural remedy every morning about half an hour before breakfast.
The amount you’ve prepared should last for about two months. After this period of time, your blooe sugar levels should be normal.

In related news, Florida researchers are also looking into whether coconut oil might be of benefit against Alzheimer’s. Three years ago, I published Dr. Mary Newport’s theory that ketone bodies, an alternative fuel for your brain that your body makes when digesting coconut oil, might offer profound benefits in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

At the time I said that, should her theory turn out to be accurate, it could be one of the greatest natural health discoveries in a long time. Now, Dr. Newport’s research is being used to launch one of the first clinical trials of its kind to test her theory. The research is being done at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.

Benefits of Coconut Oil Make Headlines Again

Sixty-five patients diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s have been enrolled to evaluate the effects of coconut oil on the disease, compared to a placebo. Dr. Newport hopes to have the results within a year.
This issue strikes close to home for Dr. Newport, whose husband has been battling the disease for years. As reported by CTV News:4“While there is currently no clinical data showing the benefits of coconut oil on the prevention and treatment of dementia, Newport — whose husband Steve was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 51 — said she began to see improvements after starting him on four teaspoons of coconut oil per day.‘Before the coconut oil, he could not tie his shoes. His weird slow gait… That improved. He walked normally and he was able to start running again.He was able to start reading again, his conversation improved dramatically and then over several months we saw improvements in his memory,’ Newport said. Prior to starting him on coconut oil, Newport said none of the existing medications were working.”

There are only two types of fuel your body can convert into energy: carbs/sugar, or fat. Again, ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. And a primary source of ketone bodies are the medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil. In fact, coconut oil contains about 66 percent MCTs.
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are fats that are not processed by your body in the same manner as long-chain triglycerides. Normally, a fat taken into your body must be mixed with bile released from your gallbladder before it can be broken down in your digestive system.

But medium-chain triglycerides go directly to your liver, which naturally converts the oil into ketones, bypassing the bile entirely. Your liver then immediately releases the ketones into your bloodstream where they are transported to your brain to be readily used as fuel.
While your brain is quite happy running on glucose, there’s evidence suggesting that ketone bodies may actually help restore and renew neurons and nerve function in your brain, even after damage has set in. Interestingly, the mechanism of this MCT-ketone metabolism appears to be that your body treats MCTs as a carbohydrate and not a fat. This allows the ketone energy to hit your bloodstream without the normal insulin spike associated with carbohydrates entering your bloodstream. So in effect, coconut oil is a fat that acts like a carbohydrate when it comes to brain fuel.

How Much Coconut Oil Might You Need?

Therapeutic levels of MCTs have been studied at 20 grams per day. According to Dr. Newport’s calculations,5 just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or seven level teaspoons) would supply you with the equivalent of 20 grams of MCT, which is indicated as either a preventative measure against degenerative neurological diseases, or as a treatment for an already established case.
While more research certainly needs to be done in this area as well, I see no reason not to incorporate coconut oil in your diet, or the diet of a loved one who is exhibiting symptoms of brain degeneration. Coconut oil has so many profound health benefits; it’s not going to do any harm.
It’s worth noting that people tolerate coconut oil differently, and you may have to start slowly and build up to these therapeutic levels. My recommendation is to start with one teaspoon, taken with food in the mornings. Gradually add more coconut oil every few days until you are able to tolerate about four tablespoons. It’s best to take it with food, to avoid upsetting your stomach.

Low-Fat Craze Has Likely Contributed to Dramatic Rise in Alzheimer’s

A number of seriously flawed nutritional guidelines have contributed to more than a few health problems in the US, and the low-fat craze (aimed at preventing heart disease) is toward the top of that list. Not only does avoiding healthful fat promote heart disease, it also promotes brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.
According to neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter, fat avoidance and carbohydrate overconsumption are at the heart of the Alzheimer’s epidemic—which is an entirely preventable disease, driven by lifestyle factors such as diet. Dr. Perlmutter’s book, Grain Brain, provides a powerful argument for eliminating grains from your diet to protect your brain health. Another major factor is the development and increased consumption of genetically engineered (GE) grains, which are now pervasive in most processed foods sold in the US. Unfortunately, despite dire need, there’s little money available for research into treatments using regular food items. As Amanda Smith, Medical Director at University of South Florida (USF) Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute told CTV News:“The pharmaceutical industry is in this — of course to make money for their companies, and of course they want to help people theoretically — but at the end of the day it is about dollars and cents, and so money gets invested in things that are new or patentable rather than things that are sitting on the shelf already.”

Knowing that Alzheimer’s is a preventable disease, predicated on your lifestyle choices, puts the power into your hands. Diet is paramount, and the beauty of following my optimized nutrition plan is that it helps prevent and treat virtually ALL chronic degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
People who experience very little decline in their cognitive function up until their deaths have been found (post-mortem) to be free of brain lesions, showing that it’s entirely possible to prevent the damage from occurring in the first place… and one of the best ways to do this is by leading a healthy lifestyle. The following guidelines will help you protect your brain health well into old age:

Ideally, you’ll want to keep your sugar levels to a minimum and your total fructose below 25 grams per day, or as low as 15 grams per day if you have insulin resistance or any related disorders.

Avoid gluten (primarily wheat)

Research shows that your blood-brain barrier, the barrier that keeps things out of your brain where they don’t belong, is negatively affected by gluten. Gluten also makes your gut more permeable, which allows proteins to get into your bloodstream, where they don’t belong. That then sensitizes your immune system and promotes inflammation and autoimmunity, both of which play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s.

Optimize your gut flora

Regularly eating fermented foods or taking a high-potency and high quality probiotic supplement helps optimize the good bacteria in your gut.

Increase consumption of all healthful fats, including animal-based omega-3.

Contrary to popular belief, the ideal fuel for your brain is not glucose but ketones. Ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. The medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil are GREAT source of ketone bodies, because coconut oil is about 66 percent MCTs. In fact, ketones appear to be thepreferred source of brain food in patients affected by diabetes or Alzheimer’s.
Also make sure you’re getting enough animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil. (I recommend avoiding most fish because, although fish is naturally high in omega-3, most fish are now severely contaminated with mercury.) High intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA help by preventing cell damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease, thereby slowing down its progression, and lowering your risk of developing the disorder.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

There are many people who are not aware of the negative impact and effects of gout. Gout is actually a distinctive type of arthritis and very complex disease that brings intense pain and many health problems.
Gout is formed when uric acids accumulate in the blood. This accumulation is a direct result of the dissolution of toxins and waste treated by our kidneys and delivered through our blood. In case the kidneys cannot eliminate uric acid, it starts with a crystallization process and accumulates mostly in the joints. Gout attacks are one of the consequences of this health condition.
Some of the most common symptoms of gout include tenderness, redness of the joints and unexpected, sharp pain. Gout is a very difficult and chronic disease. But, by using the help of the following ingredients, you can expect to block, treat and get rid of the gout. This is a natural remedy that has similar properties to any of the popular anti-inflammatory drugs.

Take the pineapple and get rid of its skin and stem. Keep in mind that the pineapple’s stem is rich in bromein, so you can use it separately. Slice the cleaned pineapple and place it in your blender. Blend the pineapple until it is mashed up well. After that, add the remaining ingredients.
Place the natural remedy in the glass container and seal it. Put the remedy in the refrigerator and leave it for nine days. Feel free to use raw honey or use more or less turmeric powder and ginger. In order to get the best results, take this remedy on a daily basis.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

There is no doubt that cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases. We should do everything we can to avoid cancer – watch what we eat and drink and take care of what we expose our skin and ourselves to. Cancer can develop in people with the help of some internal and external factors. For instance, cancer can be found in GMO seeds and various treatments used in the growth of fruits and veggies.
This vicious disease dwells in commercial sunscreen lotions rich in toxins that keep your sweat inside the body and prevent vitamin D from reaching your body. This disease is frequently found in soaps, cosmetics, shampoos, toothpastes and makeup.
Cancer can also be present in pills, in your fridge or even in your pantry. However, cancer has an enemy that can eliminate it for good. This destroyer of cancer is known as hydrogen peroxide. If you want to read more about it in the mainstream media you will probably find information about the negative effects it brings when it is at 35%, but none of them will share the information that pouring a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide in some water on a daily basis has the ability to eliminate cancer. You might be shocked by this information, but it’s true.

Cancer prospers in acidic environment. It develops fast in a body where the organs and the blood are exposed to large quantities of sugar, processed salt, artificial/junk food and animal fat. The brain, heart and other organs have hard time to eliminate the toxins that are part of many conventional types of foods.
These toxins include herbicides, hormones, heavy metals, antibiotics, fluoride, insecticides, ammonia, bleach and many other toxic compounds. This is the reason why oncologists and doctors in general advise patients that practice chemotherapy to avoid alkalizing foods such as kale because it may disrupt the chemo.
The sad truth is that the majority of patients dealing with cancer die as a direct result of the chemotherapy because this therapy eliminates the healthy cells too. So, both healthy cells that are actually trying to fight against cancer cells and cancer cells receive less oxygen and the final result is death or development of new cancers. One of the things that cancer patients often forget is that parasites, viruses and all pathogens are actually anaerobic.
In other words, they make progress when there is no oxygen present, but can’t live when there is extra oxygen in the environment. The same goes for cancer cells. These vicious cells can’t develop and spread if they don’t have access to fermenting glucose.

So, what should each of us do, no matter if we are dealing with cancer or not? The answer is simple – alkalization of the body. Don’t forget that hydrogen peroxide cannot improve your immunity or fix damaged cells in the process of chemotherapy, but this substance will provide a good basis for regeneration of new hair, skin, organ and all types of cells. This regeneration is coded in every person’s DNA. Both women and men experience the same thing:

Providing Sufficient Amount of Hydrogen Peroxide in The Cancer Cells is Crucial

Numerous scientific studies has shown that the progress of cancer is directly related to the quantity of oxygen found around cancer cells. In other words, if there is more oxygen around them, the cancer will progress slower and vice versa – less oxygen faster growth. In case cancer cells are exposed to the right amount of oxygen, they will be eliminated. Hydrogen peroxide has the ability to eliminate cancer cells because these cells don’t have the means to break down this substance and prevent its effects.
The main point of healing cancer with hydrogen peroxide is providing sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide in the cancer cells. This process has been described scientifically. Proteolytic enzymes, also known as pancreatic enzymes, cut the thick protein covering that surrounds cancer cells in half and that’s how the immune system is able to identify cancer cells. So, you don’t have to be an expert to understand how this actually works. When the protein coating is cut, hydrogen peroxide penetrates the cancer cells. Now this is something that you can’t find in mainstream media.

Medical Science is Well-Aware of This Fact for More Than 5 Decades

Dr. Otto Warburg is a Nobel Prize winner who has exposed the main difference between cancer and normal cells about five decades ago. All cells get energy from glucose. However, cancer cells break down glucose without the help of oxygen while normal cells need a combination of oxygen and glucose. This is the reason why cancer cells need more sugar and why overweight and obese people are prone to cancer.
Hydrogen peroxide therapy and few other therapies based on oxygen were tested and scientists have confirmed that they are efficient and perfectly safe. Of course, you should be careful what you are buying because 35% hydrogen peroxide is the only type of peroxide suitable for internal use. Stay away from 3% peroxide found in supermarkets and pharmacies.
It is highly recommend avoiding internal use of this peroxide because it comes with many different stabilizers which should not be consumed. If you want to use this remedy at home, you should know that there are some people who add one cup of 35% hydrogen peroxide (food grade) to tub filled with warm water and soak for half an hour.In this way, the substance is taken through the skin as the largest organ. There are people who take a glass of water with a couple of drops of 35% hydrogen peroxide. In addition, take care of the digestive enzymes. Scientists have found that there is a link between cancer and low levels of digestive enzymes. There is a special enzyme therapy that can solve this problem.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Maylin Rodriguez-Paez RNThe cause of Parkinson’s disease continues to evade scientists. Everything from pesticides to environmental toxins have been cited as potential causes. Could we we looking in the wrong places?

Perhaps so, if you consider the results of this latest study. Scientists have found that the gut could be involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease.

The results were published in the journal Annals of Neurology.

Vagus Nerve Surgery Halved the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease develops when the brain loses cells that produce dopamine. Consequently, balance, walking, and coordination are affected. One symptom that is often overlooked is constipation.

For the study, scientists analyzed a population of almost 15,000 people who had vagus nerve surgery. The vagus nerve conducts impulses between the gut and the brain. The nervous system associated with the gut is also called the “second brain”2.

They compared the rates of Parkinson’s disease in people who had their vagus nerve severed partially to those who had it severed totally. Vagus nerve surgery was a common treatment for ulcers in the 1970’s.

They found that participants who had their vagus nerve severed completely were half as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to those who had it severed partially.1 Partial severance did not offer any protection. These scientists suspect that Parkinson’s’ disease begins in the gut and then spreads to the brain via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the main conduit between the gut and the brain.

People With Parkinson’s Disease Have Different Gut Bacteria

What could this mean for the future of Parkinson’s research? Perhaps scientists will look for answers within the digestive tract. For example, we wouldn’t be surprised to see research examining the effect of probiotics on Parkinson’s disease.

Previous research shows that individuals with Parkinson’s disease have different gut bacteria than people without the condition, and the severity of symptoms correlates with certain species.3 In addition, the presence of certain bacteria in the stomach, such as H. pylori, has been shown to be associated with more severe symptoms,4 further strengthening the link between Parkinson’s disease and gastrointestinal health.

The Bottom Line

Hippocrates once said that all diseases began in the gut. Perhaps he was onto something.

The complex relationship between the gut and brain should be further investigated. And who knows, we may find the answers that we’re looking for there.